The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-01
The Story Of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account 81
q Mutiny at Sea.
BIZ W. CLARK RUSSELL. !,
CHAPTER xxIx.-CoxrrNuRp.


had you delayed coming" she wills
.percd.
The boatswain showed the boat
head off. and we each shipped an GA
and pulled the boat about quarter @
"A mile away from the ship; and then
from strange and wild curiosity t
behold the ship sink, and still in on
hearts clinging to her. not only as tn
home wherein we had found sheltc
for many days past, but as the onl
visible object in all the stupendou
reach CT waters, we threw in the oar
and sat watching her.
As some hours had elapsed since W,
had tasted food, opened tin of mea
ard prepared meal. The boatswail
ate heartily. and SO did the steward
but could not prevail upon Mary I.
take more than biscuit and sherry
-and-water.
Indeed. as the evening approached
our position affected her more deeply
and often. after she had cast her eve.
toward the horizon, 1 would see hcl
lips whispering a prayer, and feel hcl
hand Tightening on mine.
The ship still floated. but she was sc
low in the water that l every minute
expected to see her vanish. The water
was above her main chains, and could
only attribute her obstinacy in no,
sinking 10 the great quantity of WOO
both in cases and which com.
posed her cargo.
was telling Mary that ere the sun
sunk again we might be on board 8
ship, and whispering any words of en-.
.couragcment and hope to her, when
was startled by the boatswain CRYING
--'Now she's gone! Look at herr
l turned my eyes. toward the shir
and could scarcely credit my senses
when found that her hull had van.
ished. and that nothing was to be seen
of her but her spars, which were al
.aslanl stern ward.
l held my breath as l saw the mast.
sink lower and lower First the cross.
Jack yard was submerged, the gaff with
the ensign hanging dead at the peak,
the main-yard; presently only the
main-top-mast cross-tree was visible.
a dark cross upon the water; they van.
isiled. At the same moment the sun
disappeared behind the horizon; and
now we were alone on the great. breath
ing deep, with all the eastern sky grow
ing dark as we watched.
Its all over" said the boatswain,
breaking the silence, and speaking in
- hollow tone. mo livin' man'll see
the Grosvenor again.
Mary shivcred and leaned against
ME. took up rug and folded it
around her, and kissed her forehead.
Darkness came down very quickly,
and, that we might lose no chance of
being seen by ahv distant vessel. l
lighted the ships lantern and hoisted
it at the masthead. also lighted the
bull's-eye lamp and set it in the stern
sheets
Mary whispered. II will make
You up a bed in the bottom of the
boat. While this weather lasts, dear
est. we have no cause to he alarmed
by c2r position. 1t Will make me happy
40 see YOU sleeping. and be sure that
whi.e yo" sleep there will be watchfu!
eyes near you.
II will sleep as ] am. here. by Your
side: ] shall rest better So" she an
severed. II cou!dnot sleep lying down.
1t was TOO sweet a privilege to fore
80; passed my arm around her and
held her close TO ne: and she closed her
eyes like child, to please me.
She fell asleep a; last, and | sa: for
nearly two hours motioniess, that !
should MOI awaken her. The stewart,
slept with his head in his arms. knecl-
ing-a strange, mad posture. The
boatswain SAT forward, with his face
turned aft and his arms folded. l add
him once. bat he did not an
swer. Probably l spoke too low for
him to hear. being fearful CT waking
Mary: but there was little we had to
say. Doubtless he found his thoughts
TOO enGross ne 10 suffer him to talk.
Being anxious to stake a STAR" as
We say at sea. and not knowing how
the time went. l gently drew out my
watch and found the hour a quarter TO
eleven. In replacing the watch l
Mary, who raised her head and
looked around her with ewes that
flashed in the lantern light.
Where are we?" she exclaimed,
and bent her head TO gaze at me. on
which she reccllected herself. Poor
hoy" she said, taking my hand, IL
have kept You supporting my wes-ht.
You We're more tired than l. But it is
Your turn now. Rest your head Oh my
NO, it is still your turn" answered,
land you shall sleep again presently.
But since you are awake. l will try 10
find out where we are. You Shall hold
the lamp for me while I make nv cal
culations and examine the chart"
Saying which. drew out my sextant
and got across the thwartS to the
mast, which stood up across-side of
to lean on: for the swell. though mod
crate enough TO pass without notice on
a big vessel. lifted and sunk the boat
in such way rs to make it difficult 10
stand steady.
was in the act of raising the SEX
tant to my eye. when the bOatswain
cried: ..Mr. Royle. hstcn!'
''What do you hear?" / asked.
''Hush: listen nowr' he answered, in
a breathless voice.
L strained my ear, but nothing was
audible to ME but the wash of the water !
against the boats side.
Don't you hear it. Mr.. Roylc?' he |
cried. in a kind of agony, holding up |
his finger. Miss Robertson, don't you |
hear something's"
There was another interval of silence.
md Mary answered: II hear kind of |
throbbing."
at is sur' I exclaimed. II hear il
now! 1t is the engines of a steamerr'
"A steamer? Yes! heard it! where
is she?" shouted the boatswain, and he
Jumped on the thwart on which stood
iashed the lamp by the ring Of it to